In their native New Zealand, the Maori Dancers are known as Te Hokowhitu-a-Tu, or “God of war, ” since many of the company tribal dances have to do with war and that this connection between dance and war was a nickname given to soldiers from New Zealand during the world wars. The company used its tribal heritage to encourage the soldiers and to remind them of the heritage they were fighting to preserve. These days the Maori Dancers keep up indigenous songs and dances as well as honor and memorialize those who gave their lives in service to the nation. This rare area appearance is included with Field’s general admission price and is presented in conjunction with the Field Museum’s “Ruatepupuke II,” which features a fully restored, elaborately carved Maori meeting house that was originally built at Takonaru Bay, New Zealand in the 1880s. (Dennis Polkow)
Field Museum’s Stanley Hall, 1400 S. Lake Shore, (312)922-9410. Thu-Sat 11:30am. $7-$12.
